In "The Middle Watch," "Round the Galley Fire," I've learned of the sailor's lore;

And passed through "An Ocean Tragedy,"

In "The Wreck of the Grosvenor."

"A Strange Voyage" I sailed in "The Golden Hope," And with "Frozen Pirate" and crew.

And "A Marriage at Sea” was as charming to me As the yarn of the "Little Loo."

Bold is the heart that the sailor bears,

Bold as the surges that sweep.

Many the moods that the sailor shares-
Manifold moods of the deep.

Majestic the music the sailor hears—
Chorus of wind and wave.

Deep is the lore that the sailor learns―
Deep as his ocean grave.

Then here's to the Saxon mariners!
Who never a challenge refuse.

And the sea-girt sons of Albion!

Who quicken my mermaid muse.

And here's to the man who's told for all time
Of their dauntless valor and vim!

And I dip my flag—a glorious flag—

Three times to them all-and to him!

AT EVENTIDE.

"Now was the day departing."

'Tis sunset and the shadows fling
The spell of silence o'er us,
And vesper bells now softly ring,
And night is all before us.

And twilight's sway is o'er the earth
In hushed and mellow splendor,
The children from their romp and mirth
Seek home and loved ones tender.

And gathering shades of dark prevail.
To dim day's golden glory,
The lark yields to the nightingale
Love's everlasting story.

Bright hour whose birth is in the West,

Thou of the Sun's farewell;

Last jewel of the daytime's crest,

Thy charm no tongue may tell.

T EVENTIDE.

Chu of the Day King's afterthought,

Born of the Night Queen's grace; Well o'er the world thy magic's wrought, Fair is thy beauteous face.

Soft soulful hour of eventide!

The earth now consecrating,

When strife and stress cannot abide,
For love and peace are mating.

God's Acre too, lies 'neath thy dew,
The dead their soul thirst slaking,
And in their dreams the past review,
And wait the wondrous waking.

Sweet twilight hour! when sad ones know
The heart's humility;

When Heaven's shining symbols show
The soul's sublimity.

I lay in the moonlight that yellowed
And gilded the couch of my rest;
The garden seemd mystic and mellowed,
The landscape enchanted and blest.
And the moon with a circle was haloed,
When my head to the pillow I pressed;
And my thoughts like fair Luna were mellowed;
And serene, as her light at its best,
Now fondling the place of my rest.

My soul seemed a harp of contrition,
Long swept by remorse and regret;
But Luna to-night was musician,
And my soul to her singing was set.
For moonlight and music's mild mission,
Is to lighten Fate's burden of debt;
So I listened to Luna's rendition,

For the name that I bore rhymed with fret,
And likewise it chimed with-regret.

THE COURTSHIP OF DEATH

The magic of moonlight from childhood

Was ever a balm to my soul,

More potent than ocean or wildwood
To show me the ultimate goal

Of the silent, sad search of the soul.
So to-night I reposed in contentment,
While Luna with Heavenly truth,
Wove spells of the softest enchantment;
Like dreams of our beautiful youth.

But my sight caught the blood red Arcturus
As Bootes slow mounted on high;

His gleaming seemed fiery and furious
Like a storm signal set in the sky;
And I marveled full much why Arcturus
Should burn so blood red in the sky!

While a spell that was crimson and curious, (That I felt came alone from Arcturus)

On my star gazing spirit did lie,

From that ominous orb in the sky.

And even as I was a praying

I slept, 'neath incarnadine rays
Of the star that forever seemed swaying
In a magical, mystical, maze.

I dreamed that my soul was a straying
With a Guide, over flowery ways;
And limpid the light that was playing
On gardens that gladdened my gaze.